By Dipo Olowookere
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the Niger State government and Zenith Bank Plc for the setting up of a 100-capacity Information and Communications Technology (ICT) centre in the northern state of Nigeria.
Niger State Governor, Mr Abubakar Sani Bello, while speaking at the signing ceremony on Friday, disclosed that project would go a long way to boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state.
He said further that when completed, the facility would be used to empower youths in the state, which would go a long way to boost the state’s economy.
Governor Bello commended Zenith Bank for partnering with the state government to provide more job opportunities to resident of Niger State.
“As part of your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), you have decided to give us a very special ICT centre and from the master plan it will have positive impact.
“We sincerely appreciate this support as it will engage the youths in terms of empowerment and at the same time improve education.
“Apart from increasing our IGR in the state it may also provide job opportunities for few people. “Whatever business or structure that comes into the state even if it employs one person it is something.
“It means taking one person out of the labour market. So we will try to encourage and support interventions like this,” the Governor said at the Government House in Minna, the state capital.
Also speaking at the ceremony, an Executive Director of Zenith Bank, Mr Umar Shuaib Ahmed, disclosed that proposed facility would enhance learning, youth empowerment and social development of the people of the state.
“This project, which is our CSR, will go a long way to empower youths in this state and we assure you that work would begin very soon,” he said.
